SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS
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OBJECTIVE: Establish or enforce collaboration, especially when
the expected outcome is a joint publication between Action members.
DURATION: minimum one week (5 working days), maximum 3 months.
Exception for Early Stage Researchers (less than PhD + 8 years):
up to 6 months, with prior MC approval
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: The grant only covers travel and subsistence.
The financial contribution for a STSM will be a fixed grant based on
the applicant's budget request and the evaluation of the application
by the STSM committee. Recommended (but not obligatory) amounts:
EUR 60-90 for daily allowance
EUR 300 for travel
The total should not exceed EUR 2500 up to 3 months (or EUR 3500 for Early Stage Researchers – above 3 months).
Any exception needs prior approval from the COST Office.
PROCEDURE BEFORE STSM:
(1) WHO: Applicant (IC0901-specific)
WHAT: Sending pre-approval request email to our 3 STSM committee members and richmodels-hq:
o Andrey Rybalchenko <rybal@in.tum.de>
o Stefan Ratschan <stefan.ratschan@cs.cas.cz>
o Enric Rodriguez Carbonell <erodri@lsi.upc.edu>
o in CC put <richmodels-hq@epfl.ch>
indicating:
o the Action groups involved
o the exact dates
o a short description of the proposed workplan (about 250 words).
Make sure to include as specific as possible a description of the expected outcomes of STSM.
o a budget request with breakdown for the costs of the STSM (travel + hotel/meals)
The applicant may attach to this email any document which is regarded as helpful in
supporting the application at the evaluation process (such as CV,
list of publications, motivation letter, letter of support from
the home institute etc.)
If case of positive pre-approval, this e-mail is to be reused below.
(2) WHO : STSM coordinator (IC0901-specific)
WHAT: After discussion of the STSM committee, reporting the assessment of the STSM proposal to the applicant
(3) WHO : Applicant
WHAT: Using the on-line registration tool
(https://e-services.cost.eu/w3/index.php?id=91)
(previously, http://www.cost.esf.org/stsm) to fill a form with the following data:
o applicant's title, name, work place, postal address, telephone
and fax numbers, and email address;
o name, postal address, telephone, fax and email of the
prospective host at the receiving institute;
(the applicant is responsible for obtaining the agreement of the host
institution before the submission)
o the planned dates and length of stay;
o the title of the planned STSM;
o a short description of the proposed workplan (about 250 words);
o a short curriculum vitae;
o a budget request with breakdown for the costs of the STSM;
o bank details.
The on-line registration tool will issue a formal STSM application
which has to be downloaded and sent by the applicant
electronically (by e-mail as attachment) to:
o the future Host institution of the STSM; and
o the MC Chair or STSM coordinator.
// please send it by email to rybal@in.tum.de
// and CC: richmodels-hq@epfl.ch
(4) WHO : STSM coordinator
WHAT: Arranging the final assessment of the STSM proposal according to
our rules in http://richmodels.epfl.ch/internal:stsm
(5) WHO : STSM committee
WHAT: Reporting on the decisions and assessments regarding all
STSM applications to the next MC meeting. These should be recorded
in the minutes of the meeting.
(6) WHO : STSM committee
WHAT: Announcing approved STSMs on the MC mailing list and
documenting them on the wiki page accessible to MC members.
(7) WHO : STSM coordinator
WHAT: Informing the Grant Holder about the decision.
If the assessment is positive, this information can be
in the form of an e-mail stating:
"Subject: STSM <Reference number>, COST <Action number>, <grantee's name>
On behalf of the Management Committee of the above COST Action I
would like to inform you after evaluation that:
o the attached request for an STSM has been approved and;
o a grant of EUR x has been recommended and;
o the host institute accepted the proposal."
(8) WHO : Grant Holder
WHAT: In case of a positive assessment and availability of
funding, sending to the applicant
a Grant letter in which he/she is informed about:
o the approval of the STSM and;
o the level of the financial grant given.
(9) WHO: Applicant
WHAT: Returning the Grant letter to the Grant Holder, after
accepting the grant with his/her signature.
PROCEDURE AFTER STSM:
(10) WHO : Applicant
WHAT: Submitting to the host institution and MC Chair (or the STSM
coordinator) a short scientific report on the visit within 4 weeks after
his/her stay. It should contain the following information:
o Purpose of the STSM;
o Description of the work carried out during the STSM;
o Description of the main results obtained;
o Future collaboration with host institution (if applicable);
o Foreseen publications/articles resulting or to result from the STSM (if applicable);
o Confirmation by the host institution of the successful execution of
the STSM;
o Other comments (if any).
(11) WHO : STSM coordinator
WHAT: The MC Chair or the STSM coordinator is responsible for:
o Approving the scientific report
o Informing the Grant Holder that the STSM has been successfully accomplished and that the
grant can be paid.
The e-mail should include the scientific report and state:
"Subject: STSM <Reference number<, COST <Action number>, <grantee's name>
On behalf of the Management Committee of the above COST Action I would like to inform
you that:
o The above STSM has been completed from <Start date> to <End date>
o The scientific report has been approved by the MC and Host.
o The amount of EUR X can be paid"
(12) WHO : Grant Holder
WHAT: Executing the payment of the grant directly to the grantee
or the host institution as requested in the application after
reception of the approval mail and the scientific report
DEADLINES: The application together with the MC approval should be
sent by the MC Chair or STSM coordinator to the Grant Holder at least
4 weeks before the STSM starts